Apparatus and method for wireless power transmission including a source resonator having a substantially uniform megnetic field

• US 9,431,707 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2012
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ryu, Young Ho, Park, Eun Seok, Lee, Jeong Hae, Kwon, Sang Wook, Park, Yun Kwon, Hong, Young Tack, Kim, Ki Young, Kim, Nam Yun, Kim, Dong Zo, Choi, Jin Sung, Park, Jae Hyun, Park, Byung Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/359,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20120193996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A source resonator for wirelessly transmitting power to a target device may include a magnetic field distribution adjusting unit that is configured to adjust the magnetic field generated by the source resonator. In one or more embodiments, the magnetic field distribution adjusting unit may adjust the magnetic field to be substantially uniform in a predetermined vicinity of the source resonator. For example, the magnetic field distribution adjusting unit may adjust the intensity of the magnetic field near the center of the source resonator to be substantially the same as the intensity of the magnetic field near an edge area of the source resonator.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmitter comprising:

a source resonator for wirelessly transmitting power to a target device; and

at least one sub-resonator,

positioned inside of the source resonator,

wherein the at least one sub-resonator comprises;

a first transmission line comprising a first signal conducting portion, a second signal conducting portion, and a first ground conducting portion corresponding to the first signal conducting portion and the second signal conducting portion;

a first conductor electrically connecting the first signal conducting portion and the first ground conducting portion;

a second conductor electrically connecting the second signal conducting portion and the first ground conducting portion; and

a first capacitor inserted between the first signal conducting portion and the second signal conducting portion, in series with respect to a current flowing through the first signal conducting portion and the second signal conducting portion.

2. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the source resonator comprises:

a second transmission line comprising a third signal conducting portion, a fourth signal conducting portion, and a second ground conducting portion corresponding to the third signal conducting portion and the fourth signal conducting portion;

a third conductor electrically connecting the third signal conducting portion and the second ground conducting portion;

a fourth conductor electrically connecting the fourth signal conducting portion and the second ground conducting portion; and

a second capacitor inserted between the third signal conducting portion and the fourth signal conducting portion, in series with respect to a current flowing through the third signal conducting portion and the fourth signal conducting portion.

3. The wireless power transmitter of claim 2, wherein the second transmission line, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor are a loop structure.

4. The wireless power transmitter of claim 3, further comprising:

a matcher, positioned inside the loop structure, that is configured to control the impedance of the source resonator.

5. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein a resonance frequency of the at least one sub-resonator different from a resonance frequency of the source resonator.

6. The wireless power transmitter claim 5, wherein the resonance frequency of the at least one sub-resonator is adjusted based on a capacitance of the first capacitor, a length of the first transmission line, a width of the first transmission line, or any combination thereof.

7. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the first transmission line, the first conductor, and the second conductor are a loop structure.

8. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the at least one sub-resonator comprises a plurality of sub-resonators have that are positioned at corresponding corner or edge areas of the source resonator.

9. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the at least one sub-resonator is spaced apart from the source resonator in a direction normal to the plane of the source resonator by a predetermined distance.

10. The wireless power transmitter of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter further comprises:

at least one secondary sub-resonator, at least one coil, at least one shield layer, at least metamaterial, or any combination thereof, which is positioned inside the at least one sub-resonator.

11. The source resonator of claim 1, wherein the at least one sub-resonator comprises:

at least one coil.

12. The source resonator of claim 11, wherein the at least one coil is a loop structure or a spiral-shaped structure.

13. The source resonator of claim 11, wherein the at least one coil comprise a plurality of coils that are concentrically arranged.

14. The source resonator of claim 11, wherein the at least one coil is positioned at the center of the source resonator.

15. The source resonator of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter further comprises:

at least one shield layer.

16. The source resonator of claim 15, wherein the at least one shield layer comprises a plurality of shield layers which are of different size, different height, or both.

17. The source resonator of claim 15, wherein the at least shield layer is laminated onto a surface of the source resonator or a surface of the at least one sub-resonator .

18. The source resonator of claim 15, wherein at least one sub-resonator induces a substantially uniform distribution of the magnetic field generated inside the source resonator by adjusting the length, width, thickness, of any combination thereof of the at least one shield layer.

19. The source resonator of claim 18, wherein at least one sub-resonator adjusts that at least one shield layer to compensate for a parasitic capacitance generated between the source resonator and a target resonator.

20. The source resonator of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-resonator includes a layer comprising at least one of mu-negative (MNG) material, a double-negative (DNG) material, or a magneto-dielectric material.